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MEMOIR 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT, 



L^TE I>A.STOR 



CHRISTIAN CHURCH 



MONMOUTH. 



MONMOUTH, ME. 

PUBLISHED BY REQUEST. 

1861. 



"71 M 



3 2>i oa^ 



TO THE READER. 



This memoir was written by the author but a 
few months previous to his death. After com- 
mencing the work his health began to fail, and it 
was soon evident that disease was about to do its 
last work on his mortal frame. He endured all his 
sufferings with the greatest patience and resignation, 
waiting only for his last great change, which took 
place on the 19th of June, 1861, when he bade 
farewell to all earthly scenes and passed to that 
brighter world where parting is no more, and to 
meet his many friends who have gone before. — 
And now, — 

" He resteth where the flashing stream 
Flits fast along the shore 
But in that sleep without a dream 
He heareth not its roar." 

The writer hopes this little work may go forth 
among his friends witnessing for Christ and his 
kingdom, bearing testimony of the author's devotion 
to virtue and Christian piety — so that " though he 
being dead yet speaketh." 



OBITUARY NOTICE. 



The following remarks on the death of the author, is 
taken from the " Herald of Gospel Liberty," published at 
Newburyport, Mass. 



DEATH OF FATHEE PRESCOTT. 

Rev. Jedediah B. Prescott, of Monmouth, Me., 
departed this life for the land of spirits, June 19th, 
1861, aged 77 years. 

The deceased was born in Raymond, N. H., April 
10th, 1784, and removed to Maine when he was twenty 
years of age. He was concerned in the first organiza- 
tion of the Christian Church in Monmouth, and early- 
labored in the promulgation of the principles of the 
Denomination in the State. He met with many dif- 
ficulties and severe trials, at that early period, as a 
pioneer of a new cause in a new country. 

At the time of Father Prescott's death he had been 
a professor of religion over fifty, and a preacher of 
the Gospel more than forty years. He leaves a wife 
and four sons to mourn the loss of a devoted husband 
and beloved father ; yet they feel that they cannot ask 
his return to a world of sorrow, when he has finished 
his work, and is at rest in the Lord. 

He died as he had lived — a good man, for whom 
death had no terrors . Happy in prospect of his change, 
he smiled on the grave, as he passed the Jordan of 
death. He leaves a brother eighty-four years of age, 
who came one hundred and twenty miles to bid him 
adieu. 



VI OBITUARY NOTICE. 

Our departed brother spoke of his approaching 
change days before his death, and had no anxiety to 
live. He had experienced enough of the sorrows of 
life to desire to be at rest in the Lord. Just before his 
death he remarked to one of his sons, that it was a 
consolation to a dying man to know that his life had 
not been entirely devoted to selfish ends — that he 
had tried to do good to others. 

Last fall he visited two sons in Boston, and a brother 
in New Hampshire, enjoying his journey, and expe- 
riencing that pleasure in viewing various objects in 
city and country, which is common to those much 
younger in years. After his return home he seemed 
to feel little interest in this world's concerns. He 
wrote a short history of his life, finishing it a few days 
prior to his death. 

Father Prescott had an excellent gift of song, and 
was one of the sweet singers of our Israel. His last 
song on earth was — 

"' Consider all my sorrows, Lord, 
And thy deliverance send ; 
My soul for thy salvation faints j 
When will my troubles end ? " 

His last sermon was founded on the text : ^' The 
kingdom of heaven suffereth violence ; and the violent 
take it by force." 

His funeral was attended by an immense congrega- 
tion, on Sabbath, June 23d. The sermon on the 
occasion was preached by Rev. S. Bickford, from the 
text ; " We know that if our earthly house of this 
tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of 
God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the 
heavens." The Methodist and Congregationalist min- 
isters assisted in the services. 

According to our brother's wish, his remains were 
taken in charge by the Masonic Fraternity, and he was 
buried with the honors of the Order. 

Thus another of the fathers has finished his noble 
work, and been called to his reward. His name and 
memory are loved by multitudes, who speak of his 
goodness and worth as a man and a christian. 



PREEACE. 

The following work has been written at the 
request of a number of my friends, who were 
desirous to know the events that have been con- 
nected thus far in my pilgrimage through life. I 
have written nothing from any prejudice to any 
people or individual, but have stated events just 
as they have transpired, without saying who was 
in the error, if there was any. It is not probable 
that my course of life has been without fault, but 
if in any act I have erred, I can say with Paul 
that I did it ignorantly and not from ill-will to 
any one. 

I have tried through life to ascertain what God 
has required of me and what my duty was, for I did 
not wish to run before I was sent or take a course 
different from others to make myself notorious in 
the eyes of men, as I would answer to God at the 
Judgment seat of Christ. 

I have been somewhat particular in giving the 
impressions of my mind, believing that others may 
have similar exercises and not know from whence 



Vlll JPREFACl^. 



they proceed ; hence they feel justified in resisting 
those impressions, not realizing that they are from 
God ; but in these days men are better taught than 
they were in my youth ; they were then taught to 
resist those impressions, that it was enthusiasm and 
delusion which produced these feelings. There were 
religious teachers who did not believe in the new 
birth, or that it was possible to know that our sins 
were forgiven, and thought that such a declaration 
was blasphemj^, so true is it that — 

" Blind unbelief is sure to err, 
And scan his works in vain; 
God is his own Interpreter, 
And he will make it plain." 

I have through all my life labored under great 
disadvantage from the want of a proper educa- 
tion. I have never been a day to school since the 
year 1800, and previous to that only to a woman's 
school. Our school books at that time, were a 
primer, spelling book and testament. No grammar 
was taught in those schools and if the reader dis- 
covers many errors, he must exercise that charity 
which covers a multitude of sins. 

J. B. Prescott. 



MEMOIR. 



I WAS born in the town of Raymond, 
county of Rockingham, State of New 
Hampshire, April 10th, 1784. My father's 
name was Ebenezer, and my mother's 
before her marriage was Phebe Eastman. 
They had six children, four sons and 
two daughters, their names were as fol- 
lows : — Ebenezer, Phebe, Elisha, Lydia, 
Jedediah Brown and Tristram; my sister 
Lydia died when she was one year and 
a half old. My parents belonged to the 
Congregationalist Church and educated 
their children in the order and rules of 
that Church ; they were very strict ob- 
servers of the moral law, especially in 



10 MEMOIR OF REV. 

observing the Sabbath ; we were not al- 
lowed to stay from church, to range the 
fields and visit our friends as is the 
custom in these modern days. My pa- 
rents had no sympathy or fellowship with 
other religious denominations, especially 
the Baptist. In those days they had no 
settled preacher in that town, but most 
of the time engaged the services of dif- 
ferent ministers, if at any time they were 
destitute ; their meeting-house was not 
open for the use of any other denomina- 
tion. 

Dr. Samuel Brentwood occasionally lec- 
tured in the town, but he was obliged 
to preach in barns or private houses, 
and he and his followers were considered 
as wolves in sheep's clothing, and dis- 
turbers of the peace of the community ; 
this was the reputation they bore and 
not being allowed to hear for ourselves 
we supposed this was really their char- 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 11 

acter, and thus things continued until 
the death of my father which took place 
in the following manner : On the 8th 
of January, 1800, he and my mother 
and Mr. Levi Brown and wife went on 
a visit about a mile to Esquire Swan's, 
in going they had to cross a bridge 
which was not railed, on their return 
the horse went off the bridge, throwing 
them all on the ice and dashing the 
sleigh into fragments ; it is supposed 
they all lay in a senseless state for at 
least half an hour, until they were found 
by some boys who were skating on the 
river. When found they were sitting on 
the ice, with the exception of my father 
who was insensible but still alive, this 
was about nine o'clock in the evening; 
by some means they succeeded in getting 
my father to the nearest house. I was 
at home with my brother Tristram, my 
brother Elisha had gone to a Christmas 



12 MEMOIR OF BEY. 

ball. A boy came to inform me what 
had taken place at the bridge, I went 
with all speed to the place but they had 
reached the house, no one was able to 
give any account of the cause of the ac- 
cident as they were all for a time insen- 
sible. I was at a loss to know what to 
do as there was no one in the house 
but two old people and a boy, however, 
I went about half a mile to Mr. Page's 
and found their son David at home, 
who, with his mother went as soon as 
possible to render assistance, we sent to 
the ball-room for my brother and other 
help ; Mr. Page had gone to Epping for 
a physician who came, but on examining 
my father he considered his case of such 
a nature that he was unwilling to do 
anything without counsel and desired us 
to send for his brother from Chester, he 
arrived about daylight and after an ex- 
amination of my father concluded that 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 13 

nothing conld be done for him, — the 
seam of his head was parted causing a 
leak on the brain ; he lingered until 
the nineteenth of the month when he 
expired ; consciousness was restored a 
few days before he died, but he could 
in no way account for his situation ; — 
he wished us to send to Brentwood for 
Dr. Samuel Sheppard, the Baptist min- 
ister, when the minister came we found 
he wished to make confession of the 
hardness he had felt towards him and 
the unkind speeches he had made about 
him. I heard the whole conversation 
and well remember what was said. — 
When the Doctor entered the room, my 
father raised his hands and said, '^ Be- 
hold a child of God," the Doctor replied 
" I hope, child, you are not mistaken." 
This confession convinced me that secta- 
rianism is not the religion that Christ 
taught and from that time to the present 



14 MEMOIR OP REV. 

I have disliked that spirit wherever it 
existed. The friends who were with my 
father at the time of the accident were 
badly injiiredj they became sensible the 
next day but none of them had any 
recollection of any thing after they reach- 
ed the bridge from which they fell, they 
all soon recovered. 

I will now leave them and come to my 
own experience and try to relate some 
of the dealings of God with me. After 
the death of my father my attention was 
called to the subject of religion, and the 
idea that I had formed in my mind of 
the character of God from what I had 
been taught gave me great distress, I 
had no one to open my mind to, but 
I tried to get what information I could 
by reading the Bible and listening to 
preaching. I remember a sermon deliv- 
ered by Rev. James Thurston of Exeter, 
from this text, " He that believe th on 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 15 

the Son of God hath the witness m him- 
self," but I got no relief from that ser- 
mon, the witnesses were all against me, 
and how I could obtain the witness that 
I was born of the Spirit I could not 
tell, and not only so, but I had heard 
that a person could not know their sins 
were forgiven. I could not reconcile such 
doctrine with the Scriptures and it caused 
me much perplexity of mind, — thus I 
went on for some time in the dark, at 
last word came that a travelling minis- 
ter would preach at the tavern in the 
centre of the town ; I felt very desirous 
to attend as I had heard much said 
against that class of preachers, and I 
accordingly went, but unbeknown to my 
mother. I found a large collection of 
people at the house and I looked around 
for the minister but I could see no 
one who looked like a minister, many 
strangers were present and I was anxious 



16 MEMOIR OF REV. 

for the strange preacher to arrive ; I 
noticed a man sitting in the door be- 
tween two rooms, he rose and sang a 
hymn and then knelt in prayer ; this 
seemed strange to me as I had never 
seen the like before, by this time I had 
arrived at the conclusion that he was 
the minister. After singing another hymn 
he opened the Bible and read a text of 
Scripture found in Solomon's Songs, 4th 
chapter and 16th verse, " Awake, 0, 
north wind ; and come, thou south ; 
blow upon my garden, that the spices 
thereof may flow out. Let my beloved 
come into his garden, and eat his plea- 
sant fruits." 

He went on to speak of the winds, 
what they represented, that it was the 
influence of the Spirit of God upon the 
heart of the sinner, a convicting and 
comforting influence ; he referred to the 
garden and the fruits and the beloved 



JEDEDTAH B. PRESCOTT. 17 

which was Christ, and he gave such a 
description of his character in all its 
loveliness that it completely captivated 
my affections and I saw such a contrast 
between his character and mine that it 
gave me great distress of mind ; I never 
before had heard the character of God 
portrayed in that light, but rather as 
a Being full of wrath and indignation 
against sinners and their prayers were 
an abomination in his sight, that none 
but ministers and Christians could pray ac- 
ceptably ; but a great change was wrought 
in my mind, instead of the unreconcil- 
iation being in God it was in myself, 
and my sins placed me at a great moral 
distance from God, and I could not be 
happy without being changed into his 
likeness, his goodness to me appeared so 
great that I was led to abhor myself 
and repent in dust and ashes ; thus I 
went home broken down in my mind, I 



18 MEMOIR OF REV, 

could not conceal my grief for my tears 
would flow, my mother inquired to know 
the cause but I could not tell her, for 
I did not know, but when she learned 
I attended that meeting she said they 
had deluded me for I was too young to 
know anything about religion ; my brother 
found me praying in the barn for which 
I was sharply reproved by them all, and 
I was so severely rebuked that it seemed 
as though my poor heart would break. 
The effects of that meeting were spread 
about, for several persons in the neigh- 
borhood were similarly affected, and I 
was forbidden to attend the meetings or 
to associate with those who did attend. 
I obtained a small hymn book which con- 
tained many hymns that so correctly de- 
scribed my feelings that I cherished it as 
something sacred, but when my mother 
found it in my possession she hid it from 
me. The parents of those who had been 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 19 

wrought upon were troubled to know 
what course to pursue, and the minister 
advised them to permit their children to 
attend social dances and other amusements 
and by thus associating with their youth- 
ful companions their attention would be 
thrown from their troubles ; — thus you 
see by what influences I was surround- 
ed and hedged in on every side. 

About this time my sister Phebe who 
was married and lived in the town of 
Deerfield, was " brought out " as they 
called it in those days when one expe- 
rienced religion ; this was an additional 
trouble to my mother, and to show the 
reader my ignorance of these matters I 
will relate one simple fact. "When we 
first learned that my sister Phebe was 
"brought out" I supposed she had com- 
mitted some crime of which she had 
been found guilty, and I inquired of my 
mother what Phebe had done, she re- 



20 MEMOIR OF REV. 



plied, " nothing, only she has been led 
away by those travelling preachers who 
go about to craze people." The same 
man who preached at the tavern in Ray- 
mond was preaching in Deerfield, his 
name was Jeremiah Ballard, of the Free- 
will Baptist Church, he came from the 
West, — I do not know from what part 
of the Western country. 

As there were no one to whom I could 
relate my feelings I felt desirous to see 
my sister and at last obtained leave to 
visit her, and never did I walk nine 
miles with greater expectation of enjoy- 
ment. When I arrived in sight of the 
house I saw people sitting in the door- 
way and as I drew near I heard them 
singing. 0, how it sounded to me. I 
thought I would give all the world if 
I could be as happy as they appeared to 
be. They were singing the 150th Hymn, 
Second Book, in Watts' Hymn Book — 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 21 

" Join all the glorious name," and sev- 
eral of the young converts had called in 
for a religious interview, and it was as 
happy a company as I ever saw. I fin- 
ished my visit and went home but it was 
like going to prison. I did not long re- 
main at home but went to live with my 
brother Ebenezer to learn the house- 
carpenter's trade. My brother was much 
opposed to this strange sect of religious 
people and owing to his influence my 
mind began to grow dark and I lost my 
serious impressions and began to take 
delight in my former course of vanity. 
I continued in this way till the death 
of my mother which occurred as fol- 
lows : 

I went to Exeter to attend to some 
business, and the last of the month 
mother and my brother Elisha went to 
Exeter to attend the Probate Court, it 
was on Saturday and mother gave brother 



22 MEMOIR OF REV. 

Ebenezer permission to take her horse and 
go home while she and I would go to 
her sister Folsom's about a mile below 
the village to spend the Sabbath and we 
would go home on Monday. She was 
taken sick that night with a fever and 
died the next Sunday afternoon. As it 
was evident she was failing she told the 
family she wished to see me, they called 
me from another room. I went to her 
bedside and she took me by the hand 
and asked me the state of my mind, I 
told her I had lost my serious impres- 
sions and cared nothing for the people 
who had caused her so much trouble ; 
this seemed to distress her very much, 
she said she was the whole cause and if 
I lost my soul, she would be the means 
of it and there was but one way to 
avoid it and that was, if I would prom- 
ise her that when I had any more seri- 
ous impressions I would heed them, I 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 23 

might obtain salvation, for God had given 
her an assurance that he vrould give me 
another opportunity before I died. If I 
would make her this promise she should 
be clear of my blood and could die in 
peace. I made her the promise she asked- 
She also wished me to carry her dying 
confession to the people whom she had 
injured and reproached. Here we have 
another example of the awful effects of 
sectarian prejudice, and I fear that many 
will lose their souls in consequence of it, 
they close up every avenue of light and 
have caused more bloodshed than all the 
wars of wicked men since the creation. 
The remains of my mother were carried 
to Raymond and buried beside my father 
and there I leave them to rest till the 
morn of the resurrection. 

My mother's death made no impression 
on my mind, my heart was as hard as 
stone and wholly given up to vanity. 



24 MEMOIR OF REV. 

In the course of that year, twice I came 
near losing my life, once by drowning 
in Exeter river, and once by falling from 
a building, which so disabled me that I 
could not work at the joiner's business, 
and the next spring I went to Brent- 
wood to learn the trades of tanner and 
shoemaker with Jabez Smith. I was to 
work three years, clothe myself, have no 
schooling, and be free when I was twenty 
years old, this bargain was made by my 
brother Ebenezer who was my guardian 
at this time. My mind was vain, though 
at times I would have serious impres- 
sions and they would come when out- 
wardly I would seem the most free from 
them. It appeared sometimes as if the 
Lord meant to make a public example 
of me, for when I was trying to enjoy 
the society of my young friends, my mind 
would be so struck with thoughts of death 
and eternity that it would destroy all my 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 25 

happiness — I felt more like falling on 
my knees and praying and crying to God 
for mercy, for I could not join in their 
sports. 

I will relate one circumstance. I was 
naturally fond of music — the interest in 
singing at the meeting-house had very 
much abated, as a minister had just been 
settled the old people wished to estab- 
lish a choir, and they told the young 
people they would engage the services 
of a good teacher if they would attend 
and learn to sing, they soon obtained a 
large number of pupils, they soon obtained 
a large number of pupils, the school com- 
menced in August and was continued 
until the next spring, two afternoons or 
evenings every week, and at the close 
of the school we could perform any piece 
of music that came to hand. We often 
met to improve in singing and took great 
delight in trying to excel ; at one time 

2 



26 MEMOIR OF REV. 

we were performing a piece and it sound- 
ed so melodious I was completely enrap- 
tured, but something seemed to say, — 
" What is this compared to the melody 
of Heaven?" I thought, shall I ever be 
permitted to join that band ? Something 
said, '' not so long as you sustain the 
character you now do." My heart begun 
to swell, my convictions came upon me 
with such weight it seemed as though 
they would crush me — I trembled from 
head to foot and dared not open my 
mouth lest I should cry aloud, — some 
thought I was going into a fit. This was 
before sunset, I remained in this con- 
dition till sometime in the night, before 
I dared to speak. I had been trying to 
frame some excuse for my conduct when 
I hit upon the following: I said I had 
been thinking of my situation and com- 
paring it with theirs who were the child- 
ren of rich parents and I a poor father- 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 27 

less apprentice-boy trying to enjoy my- 
self in their society of which I felt un- 
worthy, they tried to comfort me and 
assure me of the respect they had al- 
ways had for me. I succeeded in a few 
days in getting over the troubles of my 
mind for that time, occasionally I thought 
I would yield to my convictions and let 
the true state of my mind be known and 
fulfil the promise I made to my mother, 
but when I considered my situation I 
concluded to defer it till a more conve- 
nient season. 

I continued in this state till the time 
of my apprenticeship expired which was 
in April, 1804. When I left my good 
master and his agreeable family to go 
out into the world, without money, without 
an education, without father or mother, 
not knowing where my lot would be cast, 
none can tell my feelings but those who 
have experienced the same. The morning 



28 MEMOIR OP REV. 

I left, my master gave me ten dollars, 
saying it was double what he had when 
h|3 was free, and if I would add as much 
to it when I arrived at his age he would 
call me a good fellow. 

I now felt desirous to obtain employ- 
ment and chanced to meet with a man 
who wished to engage a man to work at 
tanning and shoe-making, he was a stran- 
ger, but I supposed he resided in Exe- 
ter; after some conversation I found he 
lived in Eeadfield, Kennebec county. State 
of Maine ; this brought me into a straight 
place, for in those times a journey to 
Kennebec was considered a great under- 
taking, but I thought the matter over and 
decided that it mattered little where I was 
and I would go with him and work a 
year. I gathered up my little of worldly 
goods, took my pack on my back and 
started on foot and alone for Eeadfield ; 
on the 6th of May arrived there to com- 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 29 

mence my year's labor. When I got as 
far as Epping, however, I found John Mor- 
rill was going to Winthrop to work on his 
farm, he had a colt with him and we made 
the colt carry our packs which was a great 
help, this in short, is the way I first came 
into Maine. 

The name of the man who employed me 
was Elisha Bean, he was somewhat skep- 
tical in his religious views and we often 
had long discussions upon the subject of 
religion. I believed in a state of future 
rewards and punishments while he took 
the opposite side of the subject. He said 
to me one day, " If I believed as you 
do I should not dare to act and use such 
language as you do.'' I was mortified 
at his reproof and thought I would try 
to do better, but my resolutions did not 
last long, I do not remember of having 
any serious impressions that summer, 
though I would think of religion at times. 



30 MEMOIR OF REV. 

I felt as though my heart would not again 
be made to feel on the subject of religion, 
but the old impressions did come again, 
however, and with double force. I think 
it was in September of that year, that 
the Methodists had what was then called 
a field meeting, I was so situated that 
I could not attend until the last day of 
the meeting, when I and several of my 
companions thought we would go in the 
afternoon ; we reached the camp-ground 
as they were about to commence the re- 
ligious exercises, but as it began to rain 
they repaired to the meeting-house. A 
man named Joseph Baker preached. His 
text was in Acts, 13th chapter, 40th and 
41st verses : " Beware therefore, lest that 
come upon you," &c. The sermon had 
but little effect on my mind — the meeting 
closed but in consequence of the rain the 
people remained awhile at the meeting 
house in conversation with the converts 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 31 

and sinners ; a woman by the name of 
Dorcas Baker, sister to the man who 
preached, commenced conversation with 
me, I thought she regarded herself as so 
much better than I that I would try to 
defend my own cause and balance the scale 
between us as well as I could, we talked 
some time and attracted the attention of 
people about us ; she finally asked me if 
I did not wish her to pray for me, I told 
her I had no objections if she thought it 
her duty ; she wished me to kneel, I re- 
plied that I would not do it, I did not feel 
like it and I would not act the hypocrite ; 
she asked me if I would stand there while 
she prayed, I answered that I would if she 
did not pray too long, for if it stopped 
raining, I must go. I wondered while she 
was praying what covirse I should take 
when she closed, so when she concluded 
her prayer I responded with a long and 
loud Amen, which raised a laugh among 



32 MEMOIR OF REV. 

the unconverted. It had now ceased rain- 
ing and we separated. The company that 
I went with after consulting what to do, 
decided to stop . to the evening meeting 
and see it out as we called it. I do not 
relate these things by way of justifying my 
conduct, but that the reader may see the 
position in which I stood. 

After taking some refreshment we went 
back to the meeting-house, it was an un- 
iSinished building with temporary seats and 
a joiner's bench for a pulpit. Lights were 
brought, the people collected, and the 
meeting was opened and conducted as a 
prayer meeting. Nothing of special inter- 
est occurred until a young woman by the 
name of Charlotte Sampson arose and be- 
gan to exhort, I felt some interest in her 
communication as I was somewhat ac- 
quainted with her and believed she enjoyed 
the religion she professed ; she had not 
talked long before she began to falter and 



JEDEDIAH B. PBESCOTT. 33 

finally fell prostrate, this caused some dis- 
turbance in the meeting for a time, they 
took her up, laid her on a seat and I won- 
dered that they did not use some means 
to restore her to consciousness, but they 
seemed entirely indifferent and continued 
shouting "Glory to God'' for his power 
manifested in slaying sinners. Mr. Baker, 
the preacher, cried out " I wish that un- 
godly young man was here, I wish to know 
what he would say to this." I arose and 
said, I am here, sir, if you had reference 
to me in that remark, — the minister wish- 
ed me to witness the power of God in 
that young woman's case. I went to 
where the lay and examined her, her eyes 
were open, no pulse was felt in her wrist, 
and no pulsation in any part of her body, 
I could lay my finger on the ball of her 
eye and no motion of the eyelid was 
perceptible, I could not perceive that she 
breathed ; thus she lay I should think for 



34 MEMOIR OF REY. 

over half an hour, but little was said 
during the time, but they told me if I 
would remain there until she came out of 
that state, if she appeared distressed, or 
was languid, or in any way affected by 
the exercise to attribute it to bodily infir- 
mity, but if she came out happy I was to 
acknowledge it to be the power of God and 
the effect of religion. I consented to stay 
there, I soon saw the moisture gather in 
her eyes and she presently closed them 
and the tears ran down her cheeks, again 
she was still awhile, then raised her hands 
drew a long breath and in a low whisper, 
said " Glory ! " and closed her eyes and 
was still as before ; that word " Glory " 
went like a dagger to my heart. She then 
arose, took my hand and said, " Methinks 
I see Jesus," and began to exhort me to 
come to Christ. By this time I was com- 
pletely broken down, my former convictions 
returned, my promisee came up before 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 35 

me and it appeared to me to be the last 
call that ever I should have. I turned 
and went out of the meeting-house into 
a field, fell upon the ground and there 
resolved to seek the Lord at the loss of 
all things if there was any mercy for me. 
I said nothing to any one, I saw none of 
my young friends and went home alone. 
I did not wish to converse with any one 
for the people were strangers and I was 
fearful of being led astray as I had been 
in past times even by my best friends. I 
was a poor, wicked sinner in a strange 
country, without hope and without God 
in the world, and it seemed to me that a 
more miserable being could not exist out of 
hell. In this state of mind I continued 
for almost two weeks and it is impossible 
for me to relate the various exercises of 
my mind in that time, but one day while 
I was at work it appeared to me that my 
day of grace was past, that there was no 



86 MEMOIR OF REV. 

mercy for me and it was useless for me to 
strive any longer. I thought, must it be 
my lot to spend an eternity in belching 
out blasphemies against God and instead 
of enjoying the happiness of Heaven, be 
familiar with the harsh, discordant sounds 
of devils and damned spirits ! This was 
more than I could bear, for I had such 
views of the loveliness of God's character 
and his goodness, that to be separated 
from him was all the hell I feared. I 
thought I would search my heart and see 
if I could find any principle there that 
would lead to such a course. I fancied 
myself to be arraigned at the judgment- 
seat of Christ. I fancied I had a view of 
the heavenly hosts and was about to re- 
ceive the awful sentence " Depart into 
outer darkness where there is weeping, 
and wailing, and gnashing of teeth." I 
thought, how should I feel towards God 
for saving others and casting me off. 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 37 

I paused a moment and something seemed 
to say, " You may decide your own case 
as you honestly view it." 

I took into consideration God's dealings 
with me and my rebellion against him, 
and I could see no way that he could 
maintain his justice and save me ; but 
bear in mind, I was not willing to be 
damned, and I said, if he sends me to the 
nethermost hell instead ot reproaching him 
for his injustice I will love him for what 
he is. Here was a great difficulty in my 
mind, I could not love God acceptably, 
neither could he love me in justice, for 
I was all vileness and He all holiness. 
Quick as the lightning's flash something 
seemed to say "I love them that love 
me, and those that seek me early shall 
find me." I sprang on my feet and said, 
What is this ? Again something whispered 
" You have stolen a promise that belongs 
to those who are saved and applied it to 



38 MEMOIR OF REY. 

yourself." I said, if it does not belong 
to me, I will not have it ; I was now 
facing the window, looking at the pond 
which was as smooth as glass. 1 thought 
my mind was as smooth as that pond, — 
something said, " You thought your mind 
was like the pond this morning when its 
waters were turbid, what has caused this 
wonderful change ? " I tried to get my 
trouble of mind again, but could not, it 
was all gone, though I could not even 
then feel like rejoicing. Sometimes I 
thought the Spirit of God had left me and 
that I should be overcome by temptation. 
One favor I asked the Lord to grant me 
and that was, not to suffer me to take my 
own life ; I had been strongly tempted to 
commit that sin, it seemed to me that it 
was better for me to die than to live. 

I remained in this state several days, I 
had no privilege of going to meeting or 
receiving instruction. At last word came 
that a prayer-meeting was appointed on 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 



Kent's Hill, two miles distant, at Father 
Thomas' house. I went, hoping to learn 
something of my own case. I listened to 
the singing as I drew near the house and 
and thought if I could possess what they 
enjoyed I would do any thing the Lord 
required of me. It seemed as though 
something said to me, " Go into the room 
kneel down and ask the Lord to bless you 
with that which makes them so happy 
and he will give it you." It came with 
such power that I believed the blessing 
would be given. After much hesitation 
and revolving of the matter in my mind, 
I went in and knelt down, the next I can 
remember, I was standing on my feet and 
shouting " Glory to God ! " I never be- 
fore knew what happiness was, and I could 
say with the poet : — 

"My night was turned to day 
O, how calm, O, how cahn ; 

I knew not what to say, 
But cried, is this the way 
Souls are born?" 



40 MEMOIR OP REV. 



Thus I have related in short, some of 
the exercises through which I passed du- 
ring four or five years. I now found a 
good deal of enjoyment ; I had some trials 
in regard to my duty in some things, the 
brethren wished me to be baptized and 
join the class, but I was fearful of going 
too fast or of being led by others when 
the Lord had not called me to go. I was 
like a little child trying to walk, small 
things would throw me down. I was sur- 
rounded with vain company and I felt the 
need of Christian society, but could not 
feel it my duty to subscribe to rules that 
I could not understand or reconcile with 
the Bible, and I thought it was better to 
wait than to take a step I could not take 
back. 

I will now relate some of the trials I 
met with from the enemy, to show what 
power he has over the minds of weak, 
young converts. We had a mill for grind- 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 41 

ing bark that went by water, about half 
a mile from the tan-yard, and one day 
while at work near there with some oxen, 
they became frightened at something and 
became almost unmanageable. I called 
out something to them and succeeded in 
stopping them from running into a ditch ; 
another young man was behind me, as 
soon as we crossed the bridge, something 
said to me, " You swore at those cattle.'' 
I could not tell what I said, I felt dread- 
fully, for this young man had often told 
me, "You pray now, but it will not be 
long before I shall hear you swear again." 
We slept together and it was my custom 
to kneel before retiring, sometimes praying 
vocally and for him ; but now I thought 
it is all over with my religion, he has heard 
what I said and will boast that his predic- 
tion has been verified. Nothing was said 
between us on the subject for two or three 
days. One night after retiring, he said, 

3 



42 MEMOIR OF REV. 

" What ails you, Prescott ? Why have you 
left o£f praying? '^ I told him I could not 
pray as I then felt. He wished to know 
if he had said anything to hurt me, I 
told him he had not, and I asked him if 
he remembered of my using bad language 
the day my cattle were frightened, he re- 
plied that he did not remember of hearing 
me say anything wrong, and thought if I 
had he should certainly recollect it. I 
then told him how it seemed to me, how 
it had troubled me, and the reason I could 
not pray with him. 

After this I got along very well ; I be- 
came acquainted with an old mother in 
Israel who was a great help to me in ex- 
plaining the source from which these temp- 
tations came, that they came from the 
enemy, that it reminded her of what she 
heard old Jesse Lee say once, "that we 
could not prevent the birds from flying 
over our heads, but we could prevent their 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 43 

making nests in our hair." So I tried to 
set a double watch over my thoughts and 
actions, but I found that the enemy was 
still on my track. 

I now began to think about finding a 
spiritual home. The Methodists were most 
numerous and there was no other church 
in that part of the town, they wished me 
to join the class as they called it, but this 
was a new name to me for church, and 
I wished for more information before I 
joined a church. They lent me their book 
of Discipline to read, and thought that 
would satisfy me. I read it carefully and 
found it contained things I could not un- 
derstand or believe, and I could not unite 
myself with a people who professed to be 
governed by such rules, and this brought 
some trials on my mind for I believed 
them to be Christians and loved them as 
such. 

About this time a meeting was appointed 



44 MEMOIR OP REV. 

for the purpose of baptizing the converts, 
I thought I would attend and hear them 
relate their experience, but to my astonish- 
ment they said nothing, the minister read 
something from the Discipline to which 
they assented. They wished me to go 
forward but I did not feel it my duty, 
knowing I could give no reason for so 
doing but because others were baptized, 
and this would not satisfy me. I was 
afraid of being led from the right path 
and dared not move forward imless I felt 
" Thus saith the Lord." 

About this time I had some business 
that called me up into the region of Sandy 
River, and as I was unacquainted with the 
road to that part of the country, I made 
some inquiry of those who had been there. 
A brother to the man with whom I worked 
said he was going in a few days to the 
town of Starks and if 1 would wait he 
would accompany me. I accepted his offer 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 45 

and we travelled together to the place 
where I was to stop. He said he belonged 
to the Freewill Baptist Church and was 
going to attend a monthly meeting in 
Starks and wished me to go with him. I 
accordingly went ; the meeting was at 
Elder EUet's house, we found a very loving 
company of brethren and sisters, and it was 
a good meeting — such a meeting as I 
never attended before. This was on Fri- 
day, the next day they intended to com- 
mence a quarterly meeting in the town of 
Anson, to continue over the Sabbath, and 
I concluded to go with them ; they said 
there was to be an ordination on the 
Sabbath. 

The meeting was held in a log meeting- 
house on the banks of what is called the 
Seven Mile Brook, They had an excellent 
meeting, and on Saturday and Sunday 
were going to ordain a man by the name 
of Ebenezer Scales, and also to administer 



46 MEMOIR OF REV. 

the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. After 
the preparations were made on Sunday- 
morning for the Lord's Supper, my atten- 
tion was called to the subject of the ordi- 
nances of the church and for what purpose 
Christ instituted them, and all at once it 
opened to my mind in a very clear manner 
and appeared so glorious I could think of 
nothing else ; it set me to trembling and 
something seemed to say, " Declare to the 
people your views." This appeared a great 
cross to take up, and I hesitated all the 
forenoon thinking I would m the afternoon 
if there was an opportunity. At noon, I 
went away alone down by a brook, and felt 
I would like to be baptized in that water, 
and thought as soon as I reached home I 
would obey Christ in that ordinance. 

The afternoon services commenced and 
at the close of the sermon, liberty was given 
any who wished to speak. I arose and 
made a few remarks, and felt better for it. 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 47 

After the ordination and before gathering 
around the table to break bread, one of 
the preachers said, " Before we proceed, I 
would like to ask the young man who 
spoke this afternoon, a few questions. I 
concluded I was going to be called to ac- 
count for something I had said that was 
wrong ; but the minister said, if I felt it 
my duty to own Christ in that ordinance, 
there was liberty for me to do so. I told 
them I had never been baptized, and be- 
longed to no church, and did not make 
my remarks by way of any request, but 
merely to disclose my views on the subject. 
They said it was not their custom to admit 
to the communion before the candidate 
was baptized, but in this case it might be 
proper as I had made a public declaration 
of my faith, accordingly I went forward 
and was greatly blessed. After they got 
through, they said they were ready to 
baptize me. I told them I was an entire 



48 MEMOIR OF REV. 

stranger to them, they said they supposed 
Phillip and the Eunuch never saw each 
other before they met by the river's side. 
I told them if they believed it to be right, 
I had no objection, and after giving a 
short relation of my experience, they asked 
me if I had any choice as to who should 
administer the ordinance. I told them no> 
but after thinking a moment, I told them 
I had ; if it was my duty to be baptized, 
then and there, I believed some one that 
was authorised to administer the ordinance 
would feel it his duty to baptize. The 
man who had just been ordained felt it to 
be his duty to baptize me. We took off 
our outer garments, and went down into 
the water and he buried me in baptism, 
This was a glorious season to me, I felt as 
if I had renounced the world and had got 
into Christ's fold. 

I now received the right hand of fellow- 
ship and had my name entered on the 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 49 

church book at Mount Vernon. I there 
found a home and was satisfied. This I 
think was the last of October or the first 
of November, 1804. I enjoyed my mind 
throughout the winter very much. In the 
spring, the time for which I had engaged 
was out, and the last of May I went to the 
West to visit my friends, so I took leave 
of the brethren, not knowing where my lot 
would be cast. 

When I arrived at my old home I was 
joyfully received. It was like the return- 
ing of the Prodigal Son, — it was a joyful 
meeting. I remained in that vicinity until 
July and enjoyed my .visit much. I then 
started in search of work and went to New- 
buryport and hired with a Mr. Parsons, a 
line maker by trade. I worked with him 
until next fall, then went to Hallowell, on 
the Kennebec river, and hired with a man 
by the name of N. Polsom, a saddler and 
harness maker, he also kept a livery stable 



50 MEMOIR OP REV. 

with many horses and carriages. I had 
the care of these and worked in the shop 
what spare time I could get. My religious 
privileges here were limited ; I could not 
often leave to go to meeting, and the Sab- 
bath was the busiest day of the week, I 
was glad when my time had expired. 

I next went to Gardiner to work at my 
trade. I had purchased some land in the 
town of Vienna, and when my time was 
up I concluded to go to Vienna and go 
into business for myself. I was tired of 
working for others by the month, and was 
hoping if I went into the country, to enjoy 
greater privileges and feel better in my 
mind. I accordingly went there and com- 
menced work at my trade. I expected to 
enjoy a happier state of mind if I went 
where the people were engaged in relig- 
ion, but I was mistaken, for when I con- 
versed with warm-hearted Christians, I 
found I was far behind them and had lost 



JEDEDIAH B. PEESCOTT. 51 

more than I was aware of, and I found that 
I must return and do my first works. I 
had lost the influence of the good spirit 
and it was difficult to do my duty, but I 
continued to strive and pray that God 
would grant me the influence of his spirit 
once more, for without Him I could do 
nothing. 

One evening in a prayer-meeting, the 
brethren were much engaged, but my 
mind was dark, and I felt like the prodigal 
son in a far country. Brother Jonathan 
Bradley felt my case, and he began to pray 
for me in faith, and before he finished, the 
Lord was pleased to answer by turning my 
captivity and restoring to me the joys of 
his salvation. I was now in a better frame 
of mind, but I was deprived of church 
privileges in a measure ; there was no 
Freewill Baptist church in the town, the 
people were Methodists, but, although they 
were very friendly I could not feel that 



52 MEMOIR OF REV. 

liberty that I should if I had been in 
church fellowship with them. There was 
a Freewill Baptist church in New Sharon 
and two or three of the members lived in 
Vienna, and I had my name transferred 
from Mount Vernon church to New Sharon. 
Thus I became settled temporally and spirit 
ually, and I thought it best to change my 
mode of living and go to house-keeping. 
After thinking upon the subject awhile, I 
concluded to do so. 

I wrote to the young woman with whom 
I had been corresponding for about six 
years, and receiving a favorable reply, I 
had our intentions published in the town 
of Vienna, and when the notice was out, I 
took two horses and went to Brentwood, 
N. H. On the eighth of October, 1807, I 
was married to Mary Graves by Dr. Samuel 
Sheppard. When our things were ready 
we put them aboard a vessel at Salisbury 
bound to Hallowell. I took one horse, my 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 53 



wife the other, and after four day's ride 
on horseback we arrived at Vienna, at her 
brother's, Capt. Jacob Graves. In those 
days there were no carriages as we have 
now. We went to keeping house that 
winter in one part of her brother's house. 
There was an old log-house on the land 
that I bought, and in the spring we decided 
to cut off the toad-stools, repair the old 
stone chimney, put in a window, and live 
in it till we could build a house. We did 
so, and we never enjoyed life better than 
when we lived in the old log-house. It 
had a large room and we used to have 
prayer-meetings in it. That summer I 
built a new house and we moved into it in 
the fall. I now thought my arrangements 
were made for life, and I had a helpmeet 
who would take one end of the yoke, for 
she was in Christ before me and had offer- 
ed many prayers for me while I was in sin 
and a stranger to God, and it now ap- 



54 MEMOIR OF REV. 

peared as if we were as happy as we could 
wish to be. 

About this time I was in a prayer-meeting 
and while they were praying, a passage of 
Scripture came to my mind with great 
weight and in a way that astonished me. 
I felt in haste for the prayers to close that 
I might free my mind. While I was med- 
itating, something seemed to say " if you 
speak in that way it will be preaching.'' 
I thought I would begin away from the 
subject, and introduce it in such a way 
they would not think I was going to preach, 
but when I arose and tried to speak, my 
mouth was dry and my mind was dark, and 
I found I was unable to talk to them. The 
meeting became dull and all seemed to be 
in a great trial as to the cause. The 
meeting closed and I went home in an 
uncomfortable state of mind. My wife in- 
quired to know the cause but I could not 
tell her and neither of us had much en- 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 55 

joyment for several days, for my despon- 
dency also brought her into a state of trial. 
After a time, in conversation with some of 
the brethren, to my astonishment they told 
me it was their opinion it was my duty 
to preach. No one can tell my feelings 
They said I must do that duty or the curse 
of God would rest upon me. I thought 
is it possible that it can be so, that I must 
preach in order to enjoy the presence of 
God, and can I not enjoy it in any other 
way ? I thought if I knew it was my duty 
I would try to obey, but I thought they 
were all deceived, and that their impres- 
sions were from the evil one. But the 
brethren insisted it was my duty although 
I had never opened my mind to any one 
on the subject, not even to my wife. 

About this time I attended a meeting 
at New Sharon, and during the intermis- 
sion the minister called me aside and said 
he thought it was my duty to preach in 



56 MEMOIR OF REY. 



the afternoon for he could not, and after 
conversing with him awhile, for the pur- 
pose of ascertaining if I felt any thing 
special on my mind, the meeting commen- 
ced. A hymn was sung, the minister 
prayed, and I felt nothing until the second 
hymn was being sung, then a passage of 
Scripture came with great force to my 
mind, and the subject contained in it was 
opened very clearly to me, and almost 
before I was aware, I was on my feet 
talking. The passage can be found in Ro- 
mans first chapter and 16th verse : " For I 
am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ," 
&c. At once, something seemed to say, 
" you are preaching your own experience." 
My heart sank at once, my mind became 
confused and I sat down with mortifica- 
tion ; the minister then took up the subject 
where I left it. I thought I would never 
again try to preach, but the ministers and 
brethren continued to urge me to appoint 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 57 

meetings feeling confident it was my duty, 
but I could not consent to do so. 

About this *time Elder Ward Locke from 
Chesterville, called on me saying he had 
appointed a meeting in the south part of 
the town, but as he was obliged to be 
absent, it was his desire and also that of 
the brethren for me to attend the meeting 
in his place. I consented to go, but at 
the time of the appointment a severe rain 
storm prevented me from going, which I 
thought sufficient evidence that it was not 
my duty ; but something seemed to say 
" Why are not others satisfied that it is 
not your duty ? " I began to ask the Lord 
to grant me some evidence that I might 
ask to satisfy me. I accordingly asked a 
number of things, — they would all take 
place, — still I was not satisfied, I thought 
they would have taken place if I had not 
asked them, but one instance out of many 
I will relate. I was taken sick with the 

4 



58 MEMOIR OF REY. 

erysipelas in my head, it spread over my 
body and I was so very sick I thought it 
doubtful if I recovered, but I had my 
senses all the time. One night when suf- 
fering the mosf, (I was lying on the floor 
for I could not lie in bed my pain was so 
great,) my wife was sitting beside me and 
I was thinking. Am I prepared to die, and 
go to the judgment-seat ? How shall I 
stand in that day ? There was only one 
thing that gave me any fears and that was, 
I had not tried to do my duty, and why ? 
The answer was, I was not satisfied that 
it ivas my duty. Something seemed to say 
" What would satisfy you ? " I said if I 
could be relieved from this pain, from this 
burning and irritation, I will not doubt 
any more, because I shall know it will be 
a reality. I was then so swollen I could 
not see and was tossing from side to side, 
the next I remember, my wife said to me 
" You feel easier, don't you ? " I suppose 



JEDEDIAH B. PEESCOTT. 59 

I had become drowsy^ my wife had also 
fallen asleep and when I ceased to groan 
it aroused her. I thought a moment and 
was frightened, for I felt as free from pain 
as ever I did when I was well. I told 
my wife I did feel some easier, but I was 
alarmed and thought mortification had 
taken place. All at once it occurred to 
me that this was what I had asked for, but 
I did not say so to my wife. I then won- 
dered what I should do, for the doctor was 
coming in the morning and what could I 
tell him. He came and examined me, 
asked me how I felt and what time my 
pain left me. He said it was mysterious 
that I should be so swollen and still so 
free from pain ; he could not detect any 
disease, my pulse was regular, and I was 
a complete riddle to him 

Thus I have given as true an account 
of the circumstance as is in my power. 
The swelling in my body began to sub- 



60 MEMOIR OF REV. 

side and I continued to grow better. — 
I was now in great perplexity, not know- 
ing what to do or what course to take ; 
if I obeyed my impressions it would dis- 
arrange and frustrate all my plans. I was 
married and had taken my brother Tris- 
tram as an apprentice to learn my trade, 
and many other objections of a like nature 
came up. 

I said, I cannot go, the reply was, " you 
can do as you please, but one thing you 
may rely upon, you will not succeed in 
your worldly pursuits, and I will lay my 
afflicting hand on your wife and she shall 
not be that comfort to you which you an- 
ticipated." 

I tried to put away these suggestions 
and think they were only my foolish imag- 
inations and not worthy my attention, but 
in spite of all I could do, it would at 
times trouble me. I kept these things to 
myself, and did not mention my trials to 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 61 

any one, not even to my wife, and in tliis 
I am confident I was wrong, for I deprived 
myself of all comisel from those who were 
older in experience. [I will say here, that 
I am writing this on my birth-day, April 
10th, 1861 ; seventy-seven years ago to-day 
I was born.] 

I had to carry my burden alone, I knew 
if I conferred with the brethren what they 
they would say, — they would say to me 
" Preach ! " 0, how it sounded. I did 
not like to hear the term used when ap- 
plied to me. I said, any thing else. Lord, 
and I will do it, even to suffer in the 
body, only let me not be banished from 
thy presence. 

And now, dear reader, it will be too 
tedious to relate all the events that trans- 
pired in my temporal affairs. Suffice it to 
say, I prospered in nothing that I under- 
took, and this was not the worst of the 
case ; my wife was taken with a swelling 



62 MEMOIR OP REV. 

in her breast which the doctors pronounced 
a cancer, but she would not consent to 
have an operation performed although the 
doctor thought she might be cured by 
doing so. We tried every remedy we 
could hear of far and near, both inward 
and outward applications, but to no effect, 
they only retarded its progress for a time, 
it continued after awhile to become more 
and more troublesome. And here I will 
leave her for the present and return to my 
temporal affairs. 

A new plan was now presented. A 
brother of my wife had moved into Mon- 
mouth who was a cooper by trade, and as 
there was plenty of timber on his land, he 
wanted me to sell my place in Vienna and 
go into partnership with him. He could 
exchange his barrels for hides, I could 
tan them for leather and thus the two 
trades would work well together, — so it 
appeared to us. 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 63 

I soon had an opportunity to sell my 
place and have my pay in beef stock, the 
next fall at the appraisal of competent men. 
I sold it on this condition and went to 
Monmouth myself but did not take my 
family there. We built a new house, and 
on the first day of January, 1811, 1 remo- 
ved my family into Monmouth, consisting 
of myself and wife, my brother and a little 
girl, a niece of my wife whom we had 
adopted. "We went to work and put down 
some tan-pits calculating to fill them up in 
the fall. My stock-note now became due 
and I had to take it at the appraisal this 
year. A difficulty now arose between Eng- 
land and America and our government 
laid an embargo on all shipping in our 
ports and all trade was suspended ; beef 
was worth but a trifle, and barrels would 
bring nothing, we had the stock on hand 
and felt that we must dispose of it in some 
way. We finally concluded to drive them 



6i MEMOIR OF REV. 

to Bath, there came on a severe rain-storm 
and after two or three days we sold them 
for what we could get ; and for pay, were 
obliged to take a large amount from the 
stores. We took a quantity of salt, put it 
aboard of a boat bound to Hallo well, but 
on her passage up the river, she foundered, 
and the salt became wet and we lost a 
large portion of it. 

And now it was that I felt about sick of 
the world, it seemed to me it would have 
been better if I had never been born. I 
thought of poor Jonah whose case and 
mine seemed somewhat similar ; he knew 
what would still the tempest so his com- 
panions should not suffer on his account, 
but I had no such remedy to shield others 
from suffering, and he was to be the victim 
for a sacrifice, but I could see no such 
remedy. I feared I should not only lose 
my own soul, but that others would lose 
theirs on account of my disobedience, 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 65 

and I said, — a guilty conscience who can 
bear ? 

In 1812 war was declared and all busi- 
ness took a stand. I then belonged to a 
militia company and we were called out to 
defend our country ; these things had a 
tendency to engross my attention for awhile, 
but in 1813 my wife grew worse, her cancer 
was as large as a pint bowl, and the Doctor 
said she could live but a short time. 

I would mention here that I had 
bought my partner's interest in the busi- 
ness and he had moved into the eastern 
country. 

One day while thinking over my situa- 
tion, I said to myself, what course shall I 
pursue after my wife is gone ? I thought 
I would break up house-keeping, travel 
and preach the Gospel ; something seemed 
to say, " "Why have you not done it be- 
fore ? " The answer was, because I was 
not satisfied it was my duty, — again some- 



66 MEMOIR OP REV. 

thing whispered " What would satisfy 
you ? " My reply was, if the Lord will by 
any means restore my wife to health I will 
ask no further evidence, but will do my 
duty, come life or death. 

I was at work in my field when these 
things passed through my mind, but they 
left me and I thought no more of the 
matter for some time. In about two weeks 
I went away from home and when I re- 
turned I found two strangers at my house, 
whom my wife introduced as cancer doc- 
tors, who having heard of her case had 
come from Brunswick to see her ; they 
examined her case and thought it possible 
for her to be cured, but her disease had 
made such progress that it would require 
a long time to cure her. They said they 
had cured one case in Lisbon, and others 
that he had named. After talking with 
them for some time I told them I should 
not let them commence any operation upon 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 67 

her until I had seen some that they were 
doctoring. I went with them and found 
things as they had said. They then told 
me they would cure my wife for forty dol- 
lars, and if they did not effect a permanent 
cure they would make no charge. They 
commenced operations on the last of Octo- 
ber, 1813, and in July, 1814, she became 
as well as usual, and lived until 1828, on 
the twelfth of June she died of consump- 
tion. 

After my wife was cured of the cancer 
she became revived in her mind as did 
several of the neighboring women, and it 
being war time, the men after meeting on 
Sunday would collect together and talk 
over the news, while the women would 
have a prayer-meeting. 

I will say here, that after my wife's 
recovery I remembered my promise, and 
thought I was willing to do my duty when 
a way should open. My mind was now 



68 MEMOIR OF REY. 

dark and I seemed to be bound as with 
chains. It is said in the Scriptures, " He 
that hath a dream let him tell a dream." 
I had one about this time wliich I will 
relate. 

I dreamed I had started on a long 
journey, on my way I had a wide river 
to cross, I travelled until I came to the 
river, and I could see no bridge and no 
way which I could get to the other shore, 
and I thought I should have to give up 
the journey, something told me I must go 
to the edge of the water and see what was 
there. I went and found a boat for pas- 
sengers to cross in, but I could find no 
ferry-man. Something appeared to say, 
you must get into the boat and manage 
it yourself ; I thought I was wholly unac- 
quainted with managing a boat and if I 
should undertake it and fail, it would 
carry me out to sea and I should be lost 
in the ocean, I said, perhaps the rope 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 69 

is long enough to reach across the river 
without cutting it loose, so I got into 
the boat and succeeded very well until I 
had gone about half way over ; 1 could 
get no further, I tried hard but was car- 
ried down stream until I reached the 
shore from which I started. I tried again 
but with no better success ; something 
said " you may make another attempt and 
if you fail you must give up your jour- 
ney." I started and resolved to do my 
best. I went just as far as before and 
could not advance a step farther, presently 
the boat began to go down the stream, and 
I thought if I had something with which 
I could cut the rope, I would do it let 
the result be what it would. I felt in my 
pocket for a knife but I had none, I was 
in great distress and thought perhaps I 
could sever the rope with my teeth, and 
as I was about to make the attempt, a 
sharp instrument was placed in my hand, 



70 MEMOIR OF REV. ^ 

as sharp as a razor and as bright as silver. 
I did not stop to turn round but gave a 
backhanded stroke and cut the rope and 
when the boat struck the shore I awoke 
and found it a dream. 

I thought what can all this mean ? 
And something appeared to whisper, " you 
have started on the Christian journey 
but have never been cut loose from this 
world." I was exhausted and my night- 
clothes were as wet as if I had been in 
the river. 

I will now return to the female prayer- 
meeting. They were continued from house 
to house, and one was appointed at my 
house ; I heard of it and said nothing, but 
thought a good deal of what I should do. 
The time came for the meeting, and I 
thought I would not leave the house, so 
took a newspaper and sat in the kitchen. 
The people began to come in and some- 
thing suggested to me that I should be a 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 71 

stumbling-block in their way if I sat there, 
and I thought I would take my paper and 
go into the field, for if I could not take 
part with them I would not stand in their 
way. I went to the spot where I was at 
work when I made the promise that I have 
mentioned, and it appeared as though I 
was asked where I was going ? I made 
the reply that I was going out of the way 
of those who wished to worship God. 
Again the voice appeared to say, " Is this 
the way for you to conduct when it has 
come into your own house ?" My mind 
seemed to awake and I returned to the 
house and resumed my seat. Again the 
voice asked, ^' "Which would be most in my 
way if I were going to perform a religious 
duty, to have some one in another room 
listening, or to have some one in the room 
with me ?" I tnoughtl would rather they 
would be with me and although it was a 
great cross I determined I would go into 



72 MEMOIR OF REV. 

the room where the meeting was held. 
I seated myself by a stand where laid a 
book, I took it up but think I did not 
read much. Soon I heard the women sigh 
and sob, presently Sister Chandler arose 
and said, '^ Mr. Prescott, we poor creatures 
have met here for a prayer-meeting, and I 
do not know but that you think it an 
insult to you for not asking your permis- 
sion." I thought if my conduct had been 
such as to give people these feelings in 
regard to me, it was time for me to leave 
the place. 

As soon as she sat down I was on my 
feet as free as a bird escaped from the 
snare. We had a glorious meeting and 
they told me I must appoint the next. 
I complied, and appointed a meeting for 
the next Sabbath evening. The news had 
spread around that I was revived in my 
mind and there was a great gathering and 
we had a powerful meeting. I then began 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 73 

to appoint meetings on week-days. The 
Lord poured out his Spirit into the hearts 
of his people, sinners were pricked in the 
heart, backsliders began to return, and a 
most glorious reformation commenced and 
spread in different directions, and I had 
meetings almost every day in the week 
in different neighborhoods. 

I will now give the reader an account 
of my church-relationship. After I came 
to Monmouth I had no church privileges 
but with the Methodists, and after a time, 
it was thought best for me to unite with 
them in church fellowship if they could 
receive me; they knew I was not a full 
believer in their doctrines and discipline, 
those matters had been talked over, and 
they said I was as much a Methodist as 
many of them and there would be no 
difficulty on that point. I told them I 
would join the church and be subject to 
their rules until they required me to take 



74 MEMOIR OF REV. 



a course which I could not conscientiously 
take, or object to my doing that which I 
felt to be my duty, and if we could not 
agree I would peaceably withdraw or they 
might deal with me according to their 
rules. 

The next week after I joined the class 
they requested me to take the class-leader's 
place, for they believed I had a public 
duty to perform, and after some consider- 
ation I consented to take that office, and 
my meetings were held subject to their 
rules. The people were not very well 
satisfied with the preacher whom they em- 
ployed that year, — but I will pass over 
this matter for the present. 

The reformation increased rapidly and . 
spread through different towns, Winthrop, 
Wayne, Leeds, and Litchfield. Not much 
was said about joining the church, there 
was enough to do to take care of the 
wounded and nurse the converts. The 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 76 

news of the reformation went abroad and 
preachers of different denominations came 
over to help us and there was no strife 
among us for a time, but bye and bye, 
the Methodists thought it was time to 
begin to gather in the converts and told 
me I must be more stringent in my course 
and not allow every one into our meetings, 
for if I did they would not join the church, 
that I must draw the reins of discipline 
tighter and encourage them to come into 
the class. I told them it was the duty of 
the preacher to attend to that, they said 
he could not gather them in, that I had 
the hearts of the people and they would 
follow me. 

Thus matters went on until the Presiding 
Elder ordered the rules of the Discipline 
to be enforced, and I must not admit any 
to enjoy the privileges of these meetings 
more than three or four times unless they 
would join the class. I told them if the 



76 MEMOIR OP REV. 

time had come to take such a course some 
one else must do it, for I could not, and 
some of the church thought as I did. It 
would be tedious and useless to relate all 
the particulars, but suffice it to say, it 
came to this. The preacher proclaimed 
that at the next meeting he would explain 
those points of Discipline and enforce the 
rules. He did so, and when he had fin- 
ished I told them the time had come that 
I had mentioned when I took the office 
of class leader, and I now wished them 
to release me or deal with me for not 
complying with their rules, but they were 
not inclined to do either, and I was under 
the necessity of taking the responsibil- 
ity and declaring myself free from their 
church. This course brought us all into a 
great trial, we could not get one of the 
converts to join the class, and when the 
meeting closed we went home with heavy 
hearts. This was on Saturday, there was 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 77 

a meeting on Sunday but it was a very- 
dull time. 

On Monday morning the preacher came 
to my house and said to me, " you must 
come back and take the lead of the class 
again and proceed as usual with your 
meetings, for there is great dissatisfaction 
with what has taken place in regard to 
your leaving us and you must come back 
or I fear the reformation will stop." I 
told him I was sorry for what had been 
done but I could not help it, it was then 
April, the Conference met in June, and 
then we should have another preacher, 
when we should have the same ground to 
go over again, and it would be useless, for 
in all probability my mind would not 
change in regard to the matter. He wish- 
ed me to think of it till the next Thursday, 
when he was going off on the circuit which 
was then a four weeks' circuit. 

Thursday morning came and I went to 



78 MEMOIR OP REV. 

his house and talked over the matter with 
him and took my leave of the Methodist 
church. I told him I expected to go 
to the Freewill Baptist Church at Mount 
Vernon. He offered to give me a written 
statement that I did not leave on account 
of immoral conduct, but on account of a 
disagreement of opinion in church matters. 
I thanked him and told him that as I was 
going among acquaintances, probably I 
should not need it, but if I did I would 
call on him for it, thus we parted and I 
went home. 

My friends or those who agreed with 
my opinions said I ought to continue my 
meetings, but I told them that would be 
commencing a separate meeting and I did 
not feel capable to undertake it, the Metho- 
dists would also open one and there would 
be a division and in consequence the refor- 
mation would cease, I could not consent 
to do it as I then felt. Some days after, 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 79 

I called at one of the neighbors and found 
a number had collected to consult upon 
the state of affairs and they said, "What 
shall we do ? We cannot go with the 
Methodists to meeting, and we wish you to 
hold meetings as you have done and we 
will support you in so doing." 

I thought, Has it come to this ? If I 
knew it to be the will of God I would 
undertake it. I opened the Bible and 
thought if the Lord would direct me to a 
passage that would show me my duty I 
would obey. I let the Bible fall open and 
the first passage that struck my eye was 
in the first Book of Samuel, 20th chapter 
and 29th verse. It reads thus, "And he 
said. Let me go, I pray thee, for our 
family hath a sacrifice in the city ; and 
my brother he hath commanded me to be 
there ; and now if I have found favor in 
thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, 



80 MEMOIR OF REV. 

and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh 
not unto the king's table." 

This text was so applicable to my condi- 
tion that I could not resist it, and I told 
them I would appoint a meeting, this grat- 
ified them and they concluded to have a 
meeting the next Sunday. I said I would 
have one in my own house, and appointed 
it many days in the future that the word 
might get abroad as I wished it understood 
that at the time I intended to make a full 
confession of my views on doctrine and 
church organization that the people might 
know upon what ground I stood, and I 
intended to preach as God might enable 
me. The meeting was appointed on a 
Thursday and at the stated time the house 
was filled. I arose and stated the object 
of the meeting and thought I could say 
with Elihu addressing Job and his three 
friends : 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 81 

"Days should speak and multitude of 
years should teach wisdom. But there is 
a spirit in man; and the inspiration of 
the Almighty giveth them understanding. 
Therefore I said, Hearken to me, I also 
will shew mine opinion." Job xxxii. 7, 
8 and 10. 

I spoke about an hour and a half, and 
when I sat down, an old Baptist brother 
arose and clapping his hands, shouted 
" The Hebrew standard ! '' " The Hebrew 
Standard ! " a number of times. Several 
others spoke, among the number was Simon 
Clough, afterwards Elder Clough, who was 
at that time teaching in Hallowell and 
having heard of the meeting came to hear. 
From this time we concluded to hold our 
meetings in the school-house and appoint- 
ed one for the next Sabbath, when the 
people gathered together to hear the strong 
things that might be spoken, and we had 
a glorious meeting. We felt free to com- 



82 MEMOIR OF REV. 

municate and speak our minds without 
offending any, and if any were not satis- 
fied they had liberty to go where they 
could be better fed. The reformation now 
seemed to take a new start, and I had 
meetings about every day in the week in 
different parts of the town and in the ad- 
joining towns of Winthrop, Wayne, Leeds, 
Wales and Litchfield. 

I had at this time no public speaker to 
help me. The Methodist preachers stood 
aloof from us and some of them opposed 
the meetings and tried to injure my char- 
acter by spreading false reports to destroy 
my influence, reports that I held to corrupt 
and pernicious doctrines. But the people 
would be their own judges in these matters 
for they had the Bible to read. 

I commenced a meeting in the eastern 
part of the town where a revival had com- 
menced. Meetings had been held there 
by a man by the name of Wells, who. 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 83 

from his eccentric manner, was called 
" Crazy Wells," but whether crazy or not, 
the Lord acknowledged his labors and 
souls were converted through his instru- 
mentality. The reformation increased and 
also the opposition, but I felt that the 
Lord was on my side, and I did not fear 
what man could say or do against me. I 
thanked God and took courage. 

About this time some of the converts 
wished to be baptized, the Methodists 
would not baptize them unless they would 
consent to join their church, and as some 
of them had been baptized by sprinkling 
in their infancy, they would not re-baptize 
them as they called it. In the town of 
Vienna there were some preachers who had 
left the Methodist Church and stood on 
free ground. The brethren requested me 
to find some one to baptize these converts, 
and I went to Vienna and found Elder 
Jonathan Bradley and his brother Josiah, 



84 MEMOIR OF BEV. 

and after conferring together, Br. Jonathan 
concluded to come. A meeting was ap- 
pointed and he baptized my wife, Simon 
Clough, and several others. He tarried 
some days and held meetings with us 
which gave general satisfaction. 

At this time other preachers came to our 
help. Elders Ward Locke, Henry Frost, 
and James Tuthill. A large field was 
open for labor, and when the net was cast 
on the right side of the ship, there was 
sometimes a large draught of fishes, but 
the net was not broken. The work of the 
Lord went forward, — some said it was the 
work of the devil, that the devil sent those 
preachers, — that it was Methodist ground 
and they had no right to come without 
their permission. 

I state these things because they were so, 
to my great sorrow, but I had put my hand 
to the plough and could not look back. 

Simon Clough now commenced preach- 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 85 

ing, and his labors were blessed and con- 
verts were multiplied. It was thought ex- 
pedient to organize a church according to 
the New Testament doctrine and a meeting 
was appointed for the purpose ; several 
preachers were present to assist in the 
organization, and we proceeded to the 
business, but before we had finished, some 
of the Methodist brethren began to oppose 
us and make disturbance. Our meeting 
was held in the school-house, which they 
said was Methodist ground, and that we 
had no right there, and they commanded 
us to disperse ; and in consequence of so 
much disturbance the preacher thought it 
best to adjourn for they could not proceed 
with their business. The meeting was 
accordingly adjourned to the next day, 
when a church was organized according 
to the New Testament, consisting of ten 
members. This took place on May 2d, 
1817, and before the close of the month, 



86 MEMOIR OF REV. 



the number had increased to thirty-two in 
church fellowship, acknowledging Christ to 
be our Lord and lawgiver, the doctrines of 
the New Testament to be our rule of faith 
and practice, and an evidence of being born 
of the Spirit of God, the test of Christian 
fellowship. 

A number of the converts desired to be 
baptized and wished me to administer the 
ordinance, but as I was not ordained I 
could not. It was thought expedient by 
the church that I should be set apart by 
the laying on of hands, to the work where- 
unto the Lord had called me ; accordingly 
a meeting was appointed at the town 
meeting house. Simon Clough was then 
preaching in the town of Fairfax, now 
Albion. A revival was progressing in that 
town, and it was thought best that we 
should be ordained together. 

The council that was called for hearing 
our experience and call to preach, was 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 87 

composed of Brs. Jonathan Bradley, Ward 
Locke, Henry Frost and Josiah Bradley. 
I began to think what I should say for 
myself, for I never had heard a call to 
preach related. Br. Clough was a learned 
man, I could hear him relate his first, then 
I should know better how to communicate 
mine ; but a whisper came, saying, " then 
you are going by his impressions, and not 
your own." I said, no, I will relate mine 
first, if I can arrange it so that I shall not 
appear too forward in the matter. But it 
so happened, the night before the meeting 
Br. Clough called and wished me to go 
forward first, saying I was the eldest and 
the position belonged to me ; I readily 
consented, and was glad of the opportu- 
nity. 

At the conference in which we were to 
relate our experience and call to preach, 
there was a large congregation assembled, 
and I thought when they called on me, 



88 MEMOIR OF REV. 

I would honestly state to them the reasons 
why I thought it my duty to preach the 
gospel, and if they were not satisfied with 
them, I should be clear. 

When I had closed my recital, I said to 
the congregation I should esteem it a 
great favor for as many of them as were 
satisfied that it was my duty to preach, to 
signify it by rising, which the whole con- 
gregation did, with the exception of one 
man. I now felt that I had a claim on 
the people for their attention, when I 
should address them, and could have con- 
fidence to preach to them. 

Our ordination took place on Nov. 2, 
1817. Elder Ward Locke preached the dis- 
course from Acts xx. 24 : " None of these 
things move me," etc. We both knelt 
down and were set apart, he as an evan- 
gelist, and I as pastor of the church of 
Christ in Monmouth. 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 89 

I continued my labors in thisregion, and 
as I wished to be earning something for the 
support of my family, I packed up my 
shoemaking tools, and took them in my 
hand, and worked from house to house, 
making shoes for the family during the 
day and holding meetings in the evenings ; 
which afforded me a good opportunity of 
learning the minds of the people. 

I know the course I took was not popu- 
lar, but 1 cared not for that, so long as 
the Lord blessed my labors, and souls 
were converted, and the lambs fed. At 
this time we were visited by preachers 
from other places. Elders Mark Fernald, 
Samuel Peon, Moses How and some others. 
It was now thought best that a church 
should be formed in the east part of the 
town, for the better accommodation of the 
brethren. Accordingly a meeting was ap- 
pointed for that purpose, and a church was 
organized and called the second church 

6 



90 MEMOIR OF REV. 

in Monmouth. I was chosen their pastor, 
and had now to divide my labors between 
the two churches, which were about six 
miles apart. 

About this time there was a number of 
churches gathered from different towns in 
the State, and a general meeting was ap- 
pointed to be holden in Monmouth, at the 
town meeting-house. Ministers came from 
different towns and different states, and 
there was a great gathering of people. 
Elder Moses How preached in the morning 
from Numbers, xxiv. 17 : ^' I shall see 
Him but not now," etc. Elder Ward 
Locke preached in the afternoon, from 
Psalms Ixviii. 11, 12: "The Lord gave 
the word," etc. It was thought best that 
the churches should unite together in form- 
ing a State Conference for their mutual 
benefit and the advancement of the cause 
of Christ. Accordingly a State Conference 
was organized, and the two churches were 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 91 

admitted as members thereof. This was a 
glorious good meeting, and the brethren 
took new courage ; and, although this sect 
was everywhere spoken against, converts 
were multiplied and many additions were 
made to the church. 

I continued my labors as usual through 
the following winter and saw much of the 
power of the Lord in the spread of His 
cause. I will relate one circumstance that 
took place. I was at work at Mr. Joseph 
Norris' on Monmouth Neck, six miles from 
my home, in the month of February. I 
awoke one morning under very strong im- 
pressions that something was the matter at 
home. I did not know but I had been 
dreaming, which caused such feelings. I 
went into the room and kindled a fire, and 
sat down to work, but continued in great 
trouble of mind. I was called to break- 
fast, but could not eat ; they asked what 



^ 92 MEMOIR OF REV. 



troubled me, and I told them my feelings, 
and that I should go home, for I could not 
work, feeling as I did then. Mr. Norris 
said if I must go, he would let one of the 
boys take the horse and carry me, but I 
told him no, I would go across the pond, 
it was much nearer and I could get home 
sooner than to go by the road. When I 
arrived my wife said to me, " Have you 
got home so soon ? " I said why, what is 
the matter ? She said " Mr. York has 
gone after you, Esquire Orcutt's wife is 
sick and must die, and wishes to see you." 
T took my horse and went to her house, 
about two miles distant. When I arrived 
I found several of the neighbors gathered 
there ; I went into the room where she 
was, and she took my hand and said to 
me, " I must die, and I have not religion, 
no hope of salvation hereafter ; and some- 
thing said to me, ' send for Elder Prescott, 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 93 

and ask him to pray for you/ and I want 
you to pray now, for I cannot live much 
longer." 

I cannot describe my feelings. I knelt 
down by her bedside and tried to pray, and 
before I got through I could discern a 
bright place as it appeared to me ; she 
became more composed and wanted me to 
sing, which I did, she then wanted me to 
pray again ; I did so, and then sang another 
hymn. I then asked her if there was 
never a time in her life when she felt her 
mind changed. She said " when I lived 
in Bridgewater, when a young girl, there 
was a reformation in that town, and I was 
under powerful conviction at one time, at 
last light broke into my mind, and I felt 
as light as a feather, and happy in my 
mind, but I gradually lost it hj mingling 
with vain company ; but whenever I 
heard you preach it would bring those 



94 . MEMOIR OF REY. 

feelings back to my mind, but I thought 
it was only imagination and it was best to 
pay no attention to it, — and now " what 
shall I do to be saved ? " I said to her, 
lay hold of that light which then shone 
into your soul, and the joy will return, 
and you will feel an evidence of the pardon 
of your sins. She said " Is it possible 
that the little spark which was then kindled 
in my soul so long ago will bear me up 
and support me through the valley and 
shadow of death ! '' I said to her, as God 
is true, if you will lay hold of it, and be- 
lieve in Christ as your Saviour, it will be 
amply sufficient. She lay a short time 
perfectly still, then raised her hand, and 
shouted " Glory to God ! He has come ! 
Glory, glory, glory ! " A happier soul I 
never saw. She now wanted me to sing 
again, and sing and pray as long as she 
continued to breathe, for she said, " I can 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 95 

hear when I cannot speak or see." Thus 
she continued to fail till the evening when 
she calmly fell asleep. 

I had never been acquainted with her, 
had only seen her at meeting. 

The place where we held our meetings 
in the first church was too small to accom- 
modate the people who attended, and Br. 
Robert Withington said if the brethren 
would build a meeting-house, he would 
give the land required for the building, 
and also enough for a burying-ground. 
Accordingly they went to work and erected 
a house ; I finished the outside, and we 
occupied it several years before the inside 
was completed. We put in temporary 
seats and had a joiner's bench for a pulpit, 
and many times the glory of the Lord filled 
the humble house where we assembled. 
Then was the time the brethren loved each 
other, and it was among their chiefest en- 
joyments to meet together and speak of 



96 MEMOIR OP REV. 

the glorious things of the kingdom of God, 
and talk of his power ; neither did they 
make excuses that they could not attend 
meeting because they could not appear out 
in the most fashionable costume of the 
world's people. We did not then think so 
much of the outward adorning of the body, 
but that adorning of the mind, of a meek 
and gentle spirit, which in the sight of God 
is the pearl of great price. 

Thus things went on until the year 1824, 
when I received a letter from the town of 
Raymond, the place of my nativity, signed 
by several of the citizens, wishing me to 
preach there awhile as they had no minister 
at that time ; and as I had been occasion- 
ally there to visit my friends and held 
meetings with them, they thought there 
was a work for me to do in Raymond. I 
laid the matter before the churches in Mon- 
mouth, and after considering it awhile, 
concluded it was my duty to go, as they 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 97 

could be supplied "with preaching in my 
absence. Elder Henry Frost had moved 
into the place and took the pastoral care 
of the churches during my absence. 

In the month of February I set out for 
New Hampshire and when I arrived there 
my friends applied to the committee of the 
Congregationalist church for the meeting- 
house, which they refused, although several 
of their own church members signed the 
letter requesting me to come. This refusal 
to open the meeting-house for me disap- 
pointed the people and some of their own 
members also. It was a great disappoint- 
ment to us all. 

But it so happened the Freewill Baptist 
brethren had a monthly meeting appointed 
at the house of Brother Joseph Dudley in 
the west part of the town on Saturday 
afternoon and I thought I would attend 
the meeting. I did attend it and was very 
cordially received. 



98 MEMOIR OF REY. 

There were several of their preachers 
in attendance, and they had heard of the 
refusal of the Congregationalists to open 
their meeting-house for me, and they said 
if I would stay and preach with them 
they would sustain me. I told them if 
there was a place suitable for me to meet 
in I would accept their offer. They said 
we could have the large school-house at 
the Centre, in the neighborhood of the 
meeting-house. 

I accordingly made an appointment for 
a meeting to be held at the school-house the 
next day. The people gathered in large 
numbers and more than filled the house. 
We had a very good meeting, — God's spirit 
was there, and impenitent sinners fearful 
and trembling. I held some meetings 
during the week and made appointment 
for one on the next Sabbath. 

The spirit of the Lord began to do its 
office on the hearts of sinners, and old 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 99 

backsliders began to return to the fold, 
the old brethren were revived and brought 
in their tithes and oflferings, and the Lord 
poured us out a blessing. 

It was thought by the brethren best to 
get into the gospel order, and have the 
church re-organized, as there was a num- 
ber who desired to be baptized. The old 
church was scattered ; they had not had 
any regular preacher for a long time. The 
churches in Deerfield, Epping, and other 
places were notified, a meeting was ap- 
pointed and the church was re-organized 
and reported at the Freewill Baptist month- 
ly meeting. They chose me as their pastor 
for the time being. 

The Congregationalist society engaged 
a man to preach for them in the meeting- 
house. That church had always held the 
meeting-house and parsonage in their 
hands. I told the brethren I did not be- 



100 MEMOIR OF REV. 

lieve they had any right to hold it exclu- 
sively, for it was the property of the whole 
town, and each denomination had a right 
to a share in it, also in the parsonage. 
An investigation of the case was made and 
the different societies received their shares 
and sold out their right in the house to 
the Congregational society. 

The Freewill Baptist brethren then went 
to work and built them a house of their 
own, and I had the privilege of worshipping 
in it before I left the place. I told the 
brethren I was avenged of my two eyes 
which they attempted to put out by not 
allowing me to preach in their house as 
they called it. 

I went to Raymond in February, and 
in May I went home to Monmouth and 
soon returned with my wife to my field 
of labor. I baptized a goodly number 
during that season, and they were added 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 101 

to the church and have sustained their 
visibility to this day. We remained in 
that region until November when we went 
to our old home in Monmouth. 

"While I was absent the brethren finished 
our meeting-house. Thus matters went 
on without any thing out of the usual 
course until the year 1828, when the 
Lord called me to pass through severe 
trials and afflictions. In the month of 
January, my wife took a severe cold while 
on a visit, which settled on her lungs 
and caused consumption, of which disease 
she lingered along until the twelfth day 
of June, when she breathed out her spirit 
into the arms of her Saviour, and left 
the world in peace with God and all 
mankind. She lived a peaceful life and 
died a peaceful death. She was a wife 
who looked well to the affairs of her 
household, and her hands were always 
employed in something that was useful. 



102 MEMOIR OF REV. 

She was always prepared to entertain 
strangers and feed the hungry, — but 
her work is done, her sufferings over, 
and her warfare is ended, and doubtless 
she is now with Christ, — that my last 
days may be like hers is my prayer. 

I was now left alone except a young 
girl we adopted, a niece of my wife, and 
she was about being married, and then I 
should be entirely alone. I had let my 
place that year, for I, with two other 
persons, had taken a job to make a survey 
of every man's land in the town, and 
make a plan of the same, which would 
take us all the season. 

Before my wife died she wished me to 
take this young woman to New Hampshire 
on a visit to her friends, and mine, and 
thought it would serve to calm my feelings. 
Before her death we talked over all our 
affairs, and what course she thought best 
for me to pursue after she was gone. She 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 103 

said, " don't you sell your place and break 
up house-keeping, you will never be con- 
tented to board, you will want a home to 
go to ; you may live a good many years, 
and at a proper time you may find some 
one you can unite yourself with. You 
will not always feel as you do now, and 
will for awhile after I am gone. I wish 
all my things to remain just as they are 
and not scattered abroad. Euth, will 
want some of them when she goes to 
house-keeping.'^ But it was all foreign to 
me at that time, yet I told her I would 
do as she desired me to, as far as was in 
my power. 

After my wife was buried I was all 
broken down in my mind. I did not know 
what to do, or what course to take, and 
I could not get much satisfaction by asking 
the advice of my friends — one would ad- 
vise one thing, and another something else, 



104 MEMOIR OF REV. 

but in one thing they were all very nearly 
agreed, and that was, that I would do well 
to be looking up some one for a house- 
keeper, and each one had some friend 
they thought would be suitable for me. 
I told them whenever the subject was 
named to me, it gave me very unpleasant 
feelings, for I was undecided what course 
I should pursue, but if the time should 
ever come, when I should feel it a duty 
to take such a step, there would be suffi- 
cient time for thinking of it then. 

Things went on as usual until the fall, 
when I hired a man to take my premises 
until the surveying was completed, and 
made my arrangements to go a journey 
to the West. 

I will now relate a singular circumstance 
that transpired in relation to my situation. 
Capt. Joseph P. Chandler, who was a near 
neighbor of mine, was appointed light- 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 105 

house keeper on what is called Burnt 
Island, which lies about three miles from 
the main land, in the harbor of Boothbay. 
His wife was a member of our church, 
and wife and myself had visited them after 
they moved there. One night on my re- 
turn home from my work I found her at 
my house ; she said she had been very 
sick with a fever and other complaints, 
and was not expected to recover, but she 
had in a measure, and having heard that 
Doctor Prescott, of Monmouth, was very 
skilfull in diseases like hers, and her 
husband put her on board of a vessel 
bound to Hallowell, and she was to get 
her brother who lived there to take her 
to my house, and I would introduce her 
to the doctor. We talked over my situa- 
tion and affairs in the evening, and she 
felt very much interested for me. In the 
morning I took her into my carriage and 
carried her to see the doctor, 
7 



106 MEMOIR OF REY. 

Before we parted, she said she had some- 
thing to say to me, it was to relate a dream 
she had while she was sick. One after- 
noon her husband went to the post office 
and found a letter from her brother who 
had been boarding with us, and took it 
into the room where she was sick, and 
told her he had got a letter from Mon- 
mouth, she said " you must read it." He 
read on until he came to the part which 
spoke of the death of my wife, she then 
said to him, " stop reading, for it brings to 
my mind a dream I had last night. I 
dreamed Sister Prescott was dead and 
the Elder was married to a woman in 
New Hampshire by the name of Sally 
Stevens." And she said " I have an im- 
pression you will live to see it come to 
pass." 

She had never seen this woman or known 
any thing respecting her. 



/J 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 107 

Many things transpired about this time 
which made it necessary for me to con- 
clude what course I must pursue, the 
particulars of which it will be needless 
for me to relate. I never felt greater need 
of divine direction than I did at this time. 
It was not only my own happiness that I 
had to seek, but that I might take such 
a course that the cause of Christ should 
not be reproached, and if I ever prayed 
in sincerity for divine direction it was 
that I might be directed aright in this 
matter. 

We got ready and commenced our jour- 
ney to New Hampshire, and on our way 
I made up my mind to select me a com- 
panion if the Lord would open a way so 
that I could see His hand in it. In 
going to the place where our friends 
resided, we passed the house of Mr. Sam- 
uel Stevens, Sally's father. As we were 
riding along I thought of Abraham's ser- 



108 MEMOIR OF REV. 

vant who went out to choose a bride for 
Isaac. He wanted to the Lord to direct 
him, and when he arrived at the place 
by the well, he asked for a token, and it 
was given him. I said, may I not ask 
for one ? I thought if she is the compan- 
ion intended for me, when we get to a 
suitable place where I can have a full 
view all around the premises, — if I can 
see her and no other person, I will take 
it as an evidence that she is the one de- 
signed for me. 

When we arrived at the place I looked 
around and saw her sitting by the window 
looking at us, and she came to the door 
and enquired of us respecting her brother 
and sister who lived in Monmouth. I 
enquired after her folks, and ascertained 
they were not at home, and that she was 
alone, — thus my token was signified, and 
I concluded to do my errand, and thought 
I would say as he did, " And now if 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 109 

you will deal truly and kindly with me, 
tell me that I may turn to the right 
hand or the left," and she said " I will 
go with the man.'' 

After some conversation, I told her that 
after she had taken time to consider the 
matter in all its bearings, and if she 
came to the conclusion that it would be 
right that we should be united as husband 
and wife, to write to me at what time 
she would be ready, and I would go and 
have the contract solemnized. Accord- 
ingly, in due time, she wrote to me, and 
when the appointed time came I journeyed 
thither, and on the twenty-second day of 
January, 1829, we were joined in mar- 
riage by Elder Orlando Hinds ; and on the 
seventh day of February, we arrived at 
our home in Monmouth, and we have 
lived happily together to this time, April, 
1861, and I have never seen the time 
when I have regretted for a moment the 



110 MEMOIR OF REV. 

course I took, for I do believe the Lord 
guided me in it. 

My wife has been the mother of six 
children : five sons and one daughter, 
whose names are George Nelson, Mary 
Jane, George Alanson, Benjamin Eice, 
Sewell Jedediah and Samuel Nelson. 

George Nelson lived until he was two 
years, eight months and ten days old, 
when he was taken sick with the canker 
rash and scarlet fever, and died after an 
illness of three days. 

There are circumstances connected with 
this child's life and death which rendered 
his death exceedingly painful to me, it 
was so sudden that it came upon me like 
a tempest and completely overpowered 
me. I was unreconciled to the affliction, 
and knew it, but could not help it. It 
appeared as if the heavens were shut up 
so that my prayers could not enter. At 
one time, while at work in the field, I 



JEDEDIAH B. PEESCOTT. Ill 

thought I would go to the house and 
see if I could get comfort from the Bible 
for my troubled mind. I took up Doctor 
Clark's Commentary and let it fall open, 
and the first words that attracted my 
attention were these : — ■ 

" With patient mind thy course of duty run ; 
God nothing does nor suffers to be done, 
But thou would'st do thyself if thou could's see 
The end of all events as well as He." 

I said. Is this so ? Then, if I have 
confidence in God that He does right I 
have no reason to complain or to be un- 
reconciled to his dealings. I felt then as 
if I could say with the poet, — 

" Good Jehovah in bestowing sunshine ; 

!Nor less His goodness in the storm and thunder ^ 

5 
Mercies and judgment both proceed 

From Kindness Infinite." 



112 MEMOIR OF EEY. 

Infinite Kindness teaches us submission; 
bids us be quiet under all His dealings, 
never repining, but forever praising God. 
I felt a calmness of mind, and could say, 
the will of the Lord be done. It appeared 
at times as if I could hear the spirit of 
my little boy whisper in my ear and say, 
" the storm is passed, and I am at rest, so 
father, weep no more for me.'' 

Our next child was a daughter, who 
lived to the age of twenty-three years and 
nine months. 

In her twenty-first year she was married 
to Mr. Samuel 0. Stevens, of Biddeford, 
and settled in Lewiston. They had one 
child, a daughter. They were both taken 
sick in November, with consumption, near- 
ly at the same time, and in the February 
following they came out to stop with us. 
Mary-Jane lived until the ninth day of 
May, when she left us to be with Christ, 
as we humbly trust. She experienced 



JEDEDTAH B. PRESCOTT. 113 

religion before her marriage, was baptized 
by me and joined the Christian Church. 
Her husband lived two years and then 
went to join her in the better land where 
parting will be no more. I felt now to 
say with Job, " The Lord gave, and the 
Lord hath taken away, and blessed be the 
name of the Lord." Mary gave to us her 
little daughter, Eva Isabel, two years of 
age, to bring up. 

Our four sons have arrived at the age of 
manhood. George A. and Sewell J. are 
in Boston, Benjamin R. is in Lewiston, 
and Samuel N. is at home with us at 
present, — thus our family is scattered ; 
and my wife and self are left to finish 
our journey alone. 

The churches in Monmouth are done 
holding meetings, the old brethren are 
nearly all gone, and the old preachers 
with whom I formerly associated have all 
gone to their reward. I am now seventy- 



114 MEMOIR OF REY. 

seven years of age and cannot go abroad 
to visit the cliiirches and brethren as I 
formerly did, and sing, — 

" Oh, land of rest ! for thee I sigh, 
When will the moment come, 
When I shall lay my armor by, 
And dwell with Christ at home." 

The church which was gathered at East 
Monmouth, April ISth, 1818, and which 
in 1830 numbered fifty-nine members, 
became divided about building a meeting- 
house and other matters ; they became 
somewhat discouraged and gave up their 
meetings. Some of the members died, 
many removed abroad, and some joined 
with other denominations, so that now 
the church is extinct. 

I mention this as a warning to those 
who may come after, for the old saying 
of " united we stand but divided we fall,'^ 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 115 

is as true in regard to religion as to 
politics, and to call their attention to 
the importance of observing the rule that 
Christ gave his disciples, which St. Paul 
says, " Peace be to all that walk by this 
rule." 

Nothing special took place until the 
year 1835, when the condition of the 
churches was such that I became disheart- 
ened, and concluded it would not be of 
advantage for them or me, to labor with 
them longer. 

Under these circumstances I thought they 
had better procure the services of some 
other person ; to this arrangement the 
churches consented and they accordingly 
engaged a brother by the name of Richard 
Eldridge to preach to them. 

I soon after sold my place in Monmouth 
and made arrangements for returning to 
New Hampshire in the spring. It was 
now the winter of 1835, and we were 



116 MEMOIR OF REV. 

obliged to lease our home and could not 
go until the spring, we removed to East 
Monmouth, and occupied a house with 
widow Nancy Folsom, but when spring 
came, our two children were taken sick 
with the whooping-cough which prevented 
our going till August. 

At this time 1 had a little money on 
hand, and there being a small place for 
sale near Monmouth Academy, I thought 
I would purchase it, as there was an op- 
portunity to rent it to Dr. James Cochran, 
who agreed to manage it according to my 
directions. 

In the fall my friends and brethren 
wrote to me respecting the management 
of my place, and saying they wished me 
to come back to Monmouth ; and as there 
was no field opened for me to labor in 
here, which I could feel satisfied with, I 
concluded to return, which I did in the 
month of October, and moved into the 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 117 

house occupied by widow Locadj Chandler, 
until spring, when I occupied my own 
place, the Doctor's time having expired. 
My home was so far from our places of 
worship, as I preached one half the time at 
Monmouth, and the other half at Wayne, 
the brethren thought it best that we 
should remove nearer the centre of my 
appointments. 

Accordingly my friends called a meeting 
to make some arrangements for that pur- 
pose ; they came together and wished me 
to state on what conditions I would labor 
with them and spend my whole time with 
them. 

I told them they might take my place 
and sell it, or do what they pleased with 
it, and also sell my other property and 
pay off my debts, and the surplus might 
go towards the support of my family, if 
they would make up the deficiency, — but 
the principal should not be diminished 



118 MEMOIR OF HEY. 

from what it then was. To this proposition 
they consented, and appointed a committee 
to make the arrangement and surperintend 
the business. 

Shortly afterwards the committee came 
to my house with teams to move us. My 
brother Tristram had given me the privi- 
lege of moving my family into his house, 
until a place more convenient could be 
obtained, accordingly we packed our goods 
and moved to his house. 

"We left our home in the month of 
February, expecting that some arrange- 
ments would be made early in the spring 
for our accommodation. I was taken sick 
very soon after, and was unable to go 
out until the last of March, and then I 
was feeble, and here matters remained 
until the spring opened. In the meantime 
the committee had done nothing respecting 
my business, had paid none of my debts 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 119 

and had made no provision for my family. 
"What to do under these circumstances I 
could not decide. 

An opportunity now presented to sell 
my place, and I thought it best to avail 
myself of it, so that I might cancel my 
debts and thus free myself from that 
burden, as the committee was not likely to 
do any thing about it. 

I had now sold my place, paid my debts 
and was waiting for the church to provide 
a place for my family to live in, but they 
neglected to do any thing about it, and 
I was obliged to provide for myself the 
best way I could. 

There was a small piece of land for sale 
at North Monmouth, with a cellar dug 
and stoned, the timber was on the spot for 
a house, and the stone for the under- 
pinning ready to set, which I purchased 
and immediately went to work to build a 
house. 



120 MEMOIR OF REY. 

On the eighth day of June we moved 
into a house at the mills near where I 
was building, and on the ninth, our 
youngest son was born. In the course 
of the afternoon we raised our new house* 
The brethren took hold and rendered me 
much assistance in completing it so that 
it would answer to move into, and on the 
seventeenth of August we took possession 
of it and have lived in to the present 
time. 

I could here relate many trying scenes 
which I have been called to pass through, 
but for certain reasons I think it best to 
pass them by. I can conscientiously say 
I have done all in my power to advance 
the cause of Christ in this region, — yet, 
have done comparatively, but little ; but 
if I can have said of me in the end, 
what was said respecting the woman when 
she was censured because she had done 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 121 

SO little, " he lias done what he could " 
I shall be satisfied, for I have always 
felt constrained to say with St. Paul, 
" To me, who am the least of saints is 
this grace given that I should preach the 
gospel ; " and if I could say as he did in 
the commencement of his experience, — 
" I was not disobedient to the heavenly 
vision," it would be better for me and for 
others also, — but I can say with him in 
another respect, " By the grace of God I 
am what I am." " The gospel which I 
have preached was not after men, neither 
received I it of men, but by the revelation 
of Jesus Christ, so that it was not I, but 
the grace of God that was in me " which 
caused me to cry out like him and 
say — " Woe is me if I preach not the 
gospel ! " 
I never preached for money and never 
8 



122 MEMOIR OF REY. 

engaged to for any stipulated sum, with 
the exception of the proposition I made 
to the church which I have previously 
related, — that I would labor with them 
if they would support my family while 
devoting my time to them ; but which 
they neglected to do, and it is for them 
to answer for, not for me, — and there 
I leave it. 

I often think of the beautiful sentiment 
of the poet, which says, — 

" How pleasant 'tis to see 
Kindred and friends agree ; 
Each in their proper station move, 
And each fulfil their part, 
With sympathizing heart. 
In all the cares of life in love." 

And while I have been taking a retro- 
spective view of the many changes that 
have taken place since I came on to the 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 123 

stage of action, and the things of earth 
in which we hope to find pleasure and 
happiness I could say — 

" I 've seen an end of what they call perfection here below 
How short the powers of nature fall and can no farther go." 

I have often felt willing to adopt the 
language of the apostle when he says — 
^^ If in this life only we have hope we 
are of all men most miserable ; " and 
I have often taken satisfaction in repeat- 
ing the words of an ancient and worthy 
author, while contrasting the enjoyments 
of earth with the happiness of heaven, 
which I will here transcribe, that they 
may not be lost : — 

Hast tliou not seen impatient boy, 
Hast thou not read tlie solemn truth 
That gray experience writes to giddy youth, 
On every mortal joy f 



124 MEMOIR OF REY. 

Pleasure must be dashed with pain, 

And yet with heedless haste, 

The thirsty boy repeats the taste 

Nor hearkens to despair but tries the bowl again ; 

The rills of pleasure never run sincere, 

Earth has no unpolluted spring, 

From the cursed soil some dang'rous taint they bear 

So roses grow on thorns and honey wins a sting 

In vain we seek a heaven below the sky, 
The world has false but flattering charms, 
Its distant joys show big in our esteem, 
But lessen still as they draw near the eye. 
In our embrace the visions die 
And when we grasp the airy forms. 
We lose the pleasing dream. 

Earth with her scenes of gay delight 

Is but a landscape medley drawn; 

With glorious colors and false light. 

Distance commends it to the sight 

For fools to gaze upon; 

But bring the nauseous daubing nigh, 

Coarse and confused the hideous figures lie, 

Dissolve the pleasure and offend the eye. 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 125 

Since the time of this arrangement 
which I have mentioned, my labors have 
been governed by circumstances ; some of 
the time my health has been such that 
I could not preach, and we have been 
visited with a great deal of sickness in the 
family; besides, many other matters con- 
nected with my situation and circum- 
stances have engrossed my attention and 
prevented me from accomplishing much 
in the duty of preaching, but I think I 
can truly say that I never felt a brighter 
evidence of the truth of the Holy Scrip- 
tures, and they never appeared so har- 
monious and truthful as they do at the 
present time ; and I never was more 
established in the doctrine of the gospel 
which I have attempted to preach du- 
ring the space of forty-five years, as it is 
believed and inculcated by the Christian 
denomination. 



126 MEMOIR OF REV. 

The Christian doctrine embraces the 
whole Gospel, just as Christ preached it 
and left it to his church, — a perfect rule 
for them to walk by — and it tells us 
that it has power to make us wise unto 
salvation, through the faith which is in 
Christ Jesus; — thus, to understand it is 
to be wise — to be ignorant of it is to be 
destitute of wisdom — and there requires 
nothing to be added to it or taken from 
it — and I verily believe we may look 
for the fulfilment of all it promises to 
accomplish for the world ; and notwith- 
standing the confused state of the world 
and the troubles in our beloved country 
at the present day, I feel in my mind to 
cry out in the language of the poet : — 

The Prince of Salvation is coming ! prepare ! 
Away in the desert His blessings to share ; 
He comes to receive us from sins and from woes 
And bid the dark wilderness bud like the rose. 



I 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 127 

His reign sliall extend from tlie east to the west, 
Compose all the tumults of nature to rest ; 
The daj^-spring of glory illumined the skies, 
And ages on ages of happiness rise. 

The brute-hearted temper of men shall grow tame 
The wolf and the lion lie down with the lamb 
The bear with the kine shall contentedly feed 
While children their young ones in harmony lead. 

'No more shall the sound of the war-whoop beheard^ 
The ambush and slaughter no longer be feared ; 
The tomahawk buried shall rust in the ground 
While peace and good will to all nations abound. 

All spirit of war to the gospel shall bow 
The bow lie unstrung at the tail of the plow 
To prune the young orchard the spears shall be bent 
And love greet the world with a smile of content. 

Roll forward dear Saviour, roll forward the day, 
When all shall submit and rejoice in thy sway ; 
When white men and colored, united in praise 
One vast hallelujah, triumphant shall raise. 



128 MEMOIR OF REY. 

When I peruse the Scriptures of the 
Old and New Testaments, and compare 
scripture with scripture, and apply them 
to the events that have transpired, and 
when I think that this great and myste- 
rious plan was not the product of human 
wisdom, but was contrived and put in 
operation, and carried on and upheld 
by that Being who created the universe, 
and governs every part by such undevi- 
ating laws that it cannot prove a failure, 
for the prophet said, " The vision is for 
an appointed time, but at the end it 
shall speak and not lie, though it tarry, 
wait for it, for it shall surely come 
and not tarry, for the just shall live by 
faith." 

When I compare the present state of 
the christian part of the world at the 
present day with the ancient church, I am 
ready to say. Where is their faith, and 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 129 

on what is it founded ? Is it not because 
they receive and follow the doctrines of 
men, instead of following the doctrines of 
Christ, and make void the law of God 
by keeping their own tradition ? 

And in conclusion I feel as if it would 
not be amiss for me to offer a few thoughts 
on a passage of Scripture found in our 
Lord's gospel as recorded by St. Matthew, 
eleventh chapter and twelfth verse, which 
reads thus : " And from the days of John 
the Baptist until now, the kingdom of 
heaven suffereth violence, and the violent 
take it by force." 

First, Why did he select that period for 
a starting-place in giving instruction to 
the disciples ? Because it was the com- 
mencement of the gospel of His kingdom. 
Prior to that the law and the prophets 
were in force, and the gospel was never 
preached and applied as a rule of life, 



130 MEMOIR OF REV. 

until John began his ministry and told 
the people the kingdom of heaven was at 
hand, and the mode of government which 
God had established under the law was 
ended and fulfilled ; and that, the priest- 
hood being changed, a change in the 
law also became necessary, and that the 
laws of this kingdom would be binding on 
all the nations of the earth, and the middle 
wall of partition between the Jews and 
Gentiles would be taken down, and free 
access would be given to all nations, and 
the forms and ceremonies of the old law 
were abolished. This raised their indig- 
nation to such a degree, they imprisoned 
John, and because he told Herod his course 
of life was unlawful, he caused him to be 
beheaded ; this principle of violence pre- 
vailed with that class of people all the 
time, till the crucifixion of Christ and the 
ministry of the apostles, and it is in the 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 131 

world at the present day. I suppose they 
thought by the exercise of this violence 
they should overthrow this system of gov- 
ernment and take it by force. The king- 
dom of heaven sufifereth violence, and 
the violent take it by force — hence we 
ask, — 

What does the term, suffer violence, 
mean in a scriptural sense as used in the 
text ? 

I answer, in searching the Bible I find 
in most places it means to admit of, or 
allow without resistance : as Jesus said 
to John at his baptism, " Suffer it to be 
so now ; " and the apostle said to his 
brethren, ^'Why do ye not rather suffer 
yourselves to be defrauded," and not go 
to law brother with brother. And never 
but in one instance did the disciples resort 
to physical force in defending the doctrine 
of Christ, and that was when the attempt 



132 MEMOIR OF REY. 

was made to take Jesus by force, when 
Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear 
of the servant of the high priest. But 
what did Jesus say to him, " Put up thy 
sword into its sheath, and suffer ye thus, 
for," etc. 

This force has been exercised against 
the church of Christ ever since its com- 
mencement, but they have not yet got 
possession of the kingdom, nor will they 
ever obtain it, for the apostle said to his 
Hebrew brethren " Wherefore having re- 
ceived a kingdom that cannot be moved, 
let us therefore have grace whereby we 
may serve God acceptably with reverence 
and godly fear, for our God is a consuming 
fire." 

Hence, I believe the term suffer ^ means 
to allow or permit, and the violent are 
those that rise up and oppose and persecute 
the church of Christ. They will not be 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 133 

convinced by argument but rely on force 
to accomplish their hellish designs, and 
where human governments are on their 
side, the prison, the dungeon, and chopping 
block are used. 

But where there is no state religion 
and the people are allowed the liberty 
of conscience and speech and are allowed 
to form their own creeds, they have to 
exercise force by their ecclesiastical gov- 
ernment and exclude from their fellowship 
all who will not subscribe to their creeds, 
and they say, 

" Stand by thyself for I am more holy 
than thou." 

This spirit, in my opinion, is not the 
spirit of the gospel of Christ, for the 
apostle said " Let each esteem others 
better than himself," and again he says, 
" Eesist not evil but overcome evil with 
good." 



134 MEMOIR OF REV. 

I cannot find in the New Testament 
any provision made either by precept or 
example, to make use of force to carry 
forward the great principles of the Gospel, 
but the language is " Therefore knowing 
the terrors of the law, we beseech you, 
in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to 
God." • 

But if conviction is forced upon their 
consciences by the preaching of the gospel, 
they say as Felix did, " Go thy way for 
this time," etc., and perhaps they raise 
a tumult as they did at Ephesus, saying, 
"Away with these men," and although 
convinced of the truth, it does not force 
them into obedience. And this is their 
condemnation, that " Light has come, but 
they love darkness rather than light be- 
cause their deeds are evil and they will 
not come to Christ that they might have 
life." 



JEDEDIAH B. PRESCOTT. 135 

Thus I have endeavored in a simple 
and unconnected manner to give my views 
of the doctrine contained in the text. For 
" from the days of John the Baptist the 
kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and 
the violent take it by force/' 



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